Although some estimates show that 15 to 20% of all financial professionals are women, there is a growing demand for females in the financial services industry.1 In America, women control about $14 trillion in assets. A female financial professional may be appropriate for a woman's financial needs by providing a different perspective that may be less prominent in the economic realm. Here are five possible advantages that female financial professionals may have over their male counterparts.

A Personal Connection Finding a financial professional may be like embarking on a new relationship. This connection involves building trust and rapport between the financial professional and the client. This process may be easier when both are the same gender and have the possibility of shared life experiences.

Suppose a client is too intimidated by a financial professional to ask questions to clarify things they may not understand. In that case, it can make it challenging to build a relationship based on trust.

Comprehensive and Long-Term Advice
Some women want comprehensive financial advice, not just segmented recommendations that deal with specific issues. Instead of selecting services from an impersonal menu, some clients may favor a more personable financial professional who creates a plan catered to a client's preferences and needs. Developing a long-term relationship with a trusted financial professional may be a good way to get holistic advice from someone who has watched a client's financial journey for years.

Empathy
One thing that may help women financial professionals build client relationships is empathy. Those seeking financial advice may be going through a transition or difficult time, such as a divorce, retirement or losing a loved one. Showing empathy and providing guidance may be the appropriate balance for some clients. Understanding that a client may not be ready to make major changes may also help avoid pushing them away inadvertently by moving too quickly.

Delegation Ability
Female executives tend to know when to delegate responsibility in and out of the office. When it comes to turning over financial decisions and management to someone else, some women may be more comfortable entrusting these responsibilities to another female professional. Women financial professionals may understand what other women deal with regularly, from workplace sexism to socioeconomic concerns, and may provide advice that takes these factors into mind.